Saturday night all right for Buckeyes

Sunday

Sep 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 1, 2007 at 4:10 PM

MINNEAPOLIS -- Embrace the night.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Embrace the night.

That was Ohio State's motto going into a game against Minnesota last night, as well as going into the Big Ten season. For the first time, the Buckeyes are playing three conference games in prime time, all on the road, including two consecutive. Saturday's game at Purdue will start at 8 p.m.

Add an 8 p.m. kickoff at Penn State on Oct. 27 and Ohio State's 2007 season has become a fly-by-night operation. The Buckeyes' path is that much tougher because home stadiums always seem to be jumping more after the sun goes down.

"I think it's a good reminder for us that they did that because they thought people wanted to watch us," Tressel said. "Now, we've got to perform.

"But no, I don't feel put upon. I don't think anyone had a master plan at ABC or ESPN, 'Hey, let's make it harder on the Buckeyes.' "

Not that the Buckeyes had any say. The Big Ten agreement with ABC/ESPN allows the networks to designate six games for prime time before the season, pending approval of the home team.

As it stands, only the final three Ohio State games await start times -- home vs. Wisconsin and Illinois and the finale at Michigan. None will be at night, athletic director Gene Smith said.

"For our home games, they would have to get the permission of the institution, and I would not approve that," Smith said.

Last year, ABC tried to talk Ohio State into moving the Michigan game, when the teams were ranked 1-2, to night, but Smith refused. The compromise was 4 p.m., the latest kickoff in the rivalry's history.

Tressel said the key is to embrace the situation, and Smith agreed.

"That says a lot about two things, really," Smith said. "One, it's about the performance of our team, which has been outstanding, obviously.

"And two, it's about our fans. They contribute to the ratings. They watch the Buckeyes. That's the business part of it. And it is really an honor to be showcased like that. We see it as an opportunity."